Rough Point
The seaside estate of tobacco heiress Doris Duke, preserved as she left it, with her art collection and private life intact.
Rough Point sits on a headland at the end of Bellevue Avenue. It was originally built for the Vanderbilt family and later became the summer home of Doris Duke, daughter of a tobacco and energy fortune. After her death the house was opened as it was, displaying a collection that includes Renaissance tapestries, Chinese porcelain, and paintings by Renoir and Van Dyck. The lawn runs down to the sea, and a cliff path passes alongside. Managed by the Newport Restoration Foundation, it requires advance booking for guided tours and is generally open from about April to November.
Opening hours
Apr–Nov, approx. Tue–Sun 10:00–16:00; reservation required